"My mother trained me to think poorly of jeans. I'm trying to get over it."
"Why did she care so much about how you dressed?"
"She's particular about most things. She thinks that a professional appearance both enhances the impact of your magic and tells people that you are in complete control of it."
"She's alive?"
"I assume. I get a phone call from her every few years. The last one was probably two years ago."
"So you're not close."
He chuckled. "No. My parents weren't mates. The royalty in the city I was born in wanted a weapon, and convinced them to procreate so they could use me. They both possess pain magic, which is rare, even among winter fae. Reproducing with someone whose magic matches yours is a near guarantee that your child will have a more powerful version of what you possess."
"And they were right."
"Too right. My father couldn't cope with a child who cried all the time from constant pain, and left the city when I was young. My mother hired help, and wasn't around often. No one anticipated I would bethispowerful."
"Or hurt so much."
He nodded. "The other fae were afraid of my magic, so my mother taught me to keep it contained the way she did. The royals' dreams of having a weapon ended the first time they attempted to use me to torture someone. I tortured the royal instead, for hurting the young girl, and he wasn't strong enough to stop me."
"So they kicked you out."
"They politely asked me to leave immediately."
I smiled.
Callum's lips quirked upward slightly. "My mother had heard about Merrily, so she suggested I find Mer’s hiding place. It would be easy to go insane, alone with my pain. I did. Dare joined us a few years later. Liv, a few years after that. When the humans started hunting immortals, we found some spellcasters to work with, and built our own version of the city I grew up in."
Liv knocked loudly on our bedroom door. "This is not the day we should be late!"
"Don't wear the makeup. It irritates you." Callum plucked it away from me, setting it back in the drawer.
"I think you look hot in jeans, if that helps."
"I don't think anyone's ever called methatbefore."
"We can agree thathotisn't your usual vibe." I grabbed his belt loops, and he let me pull him close. "Sexy usually covers it, and the ice doesn't inspire warm feelings for most people. Hot looks good on you, though."
He dipped his head, kissing me slowly.
"I will electrocute both of you if you make me late!" Liv yelled.
I reluctantly pulled away.
"Maybe theyaremates," Callum murmured against my lips.
"She's always this impatient."
"Yeah." He lifted his head. "Let's get this over with. We have to be there to stop Liv from exploding if he kisses your sister or something."
"I don't think he will, but you never know."
Callum laced his fingers through mine as we met Liv in the hallway, following her hurried steps toward the car.
"Do you think it's illegal to interfere with the challenges to make sure he loses?" Liv checked.
"Yes," we said at the same time.
